The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) on Tuesday reported that 157 incidents of crude oil theft were recorded in the Niger Delta region between December 30, 2023 and January 5, this year
In a documented post on X on Tuesday, company listed the incidence sources as including the Nigeria AGIP Oil Company, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), Maton Engineering Ltd, Tantita Security Services Ltd, NNPCL Command and Control Center, SPDC and government security agencies.
The X post reads: “In the past week, 52 illegal refineries were discovered in Obuzo and Owaza in Abia State, Ohaji/Egbema in Imo State, Rumuekpe in Rivers State and Otuesegha in Bayelsa State, all the refineries discovered were destroyed.
“32 illegal refineries were uncovered in several parts of Bayelsa State, Delta State and Rivers State, illegal connections were also removed and repaired along the central corridor in the Niger Delta, while seven illegal storage sites were uncovered in parts of Akwa-Ibom State.
“Buried drums of crude were unearthed and some discovered in bushes, in Operoma in Bayelsa State and Oleh-Okpari in Warri Delta State, sacks of stolen crude were confiscated, also in Delta State, drums filled with stolen crude were found in the river.
“Oil well head were vandalized in Okrika and Ebocha, in Rivers State were the protection around the well head did not stand a chance”, the company added.
Meanwhile, in the documented video, it disclosed that 12 vehicles conveying stolen crude were impounded in the past week at various locations in Rivers and Delta States while 25 wooden boats conveying stolen crude were arrested and confiscated.
The X post further reflected that nine of the incidents took place in the deep blue water, 45 in the Eastern region, 95 in the central region and eight in the western region.
The company also confirmed that “between the 30th of December 2023 to the 4th of January 2024, 17 suspects were arrested.”
